Lancia Motor Club

We have a small vineyard in the S of France (Minervois region) and we have just completed our second "vendanges" or grape harvest.

The subject of my request is to find/design a suitable replacement for my current grape-transporter ....... we pick by hand into boxes and then transfer the boxes to the de-stemmer a couple of km's away

The photos show an extremely able form of transport, BUT IT'S NOT A LANCIA ! It is a Renault Rodeo, built on a R4 chassis. Similar in concept to a Citroen Mehari, but less pretty.

List of requirements as follows:

A Lancia (or Lancia-based special)
Narrow, 1.75m max, pref narrower - to get between rows
Short - to turn around at the end
Good turning circle - see above
1/2 tonne carrying capacity
Low platform - so as not to break our backs lifting off the boxes of grapes
Open topped - the sun shines here
Good ground clearance - dodgy tracks
Supple suspension - gentle on the grapes
Good looking - anything is prettier than a Rodeo

I am currently thinking of an Aprilia-based special (à la David Laver) or open topped version of "the thing",  but am open to ideas and suggestions

Many thanks

(ps this is only a semi-serious request !!!!!!)

It doesn't meet all of your criteria, but would be fun...... see below.

or this...

and when you get into larger scale production.......

and finally for when you have done too much tasting......

Which might lead to....

I was going to suggest a Camioncino (if you can find one).

If you buy something from the UK, as you live in my favourite part of God's-chosen-country I'd be happy to drive it down to you !

Martin.

ps I'll be lynched for this suggestion but, what about a Fulvia Zagato with the back cut off ????????
  or a Montecarlo spider with the luggage cover/bonnet removed ??

I would especially like the Appia, but there would be uproar when I cut the roof off - maybe that would lead directly to your last picture, Ade !

I inquired about a camioncino in America recently, but unfortunately it would have cost several years of production to buy it ....

Fulvia Zagato - very pretty but turning circle a bit of a problem - probably needs rear wheel drive and sliding pillar front suspension

What I have is an Augusta platform chassis - and its not so different from what lurks under the 'proper' Augustas and Belnas so expect either could provide a good start.  Its finding the one that runs well but beyond saving body-wise...   From time to time I ponder a flatbed or drop side truck as well as Woodie shooting breaks.  In the far reaches of Cloud Cookoo Land a whole wardrobe of bodies to drop on depending on the occasion.

There was an Appia based special in Holland a while back.  From memory a tube chassis and terrible home made Lotus 7 type body.  There's an Augusta special with an English engine that did a season or so of VSCC (Robbie Coltrane?) for sale in Germany.  Not pretty and advertised with sketches of an alternative body so again nobody would worry about you stripping back and making something useful from it, with or without an engine swap back to the original or some other Lancia engine.  I'd have thought Appia would be the cheapest option but Augusta engines are out there still - I get tempted every now and then.

As well as the Augustas (and Belnas) and Appias and Aprilias don't forget to add Ardeas to your searches.

...and whatever happend to that Fulvia pickup someone you knew was using to transport boat bits?

A bit large but there was a Flavia based camper van I looked at at Richard Thornes and ran way from.  Whatever happend to that one...  It wouldn't take long to remove the camper body!!

David

It's simple! All you need is a Trojan. See this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ais64mPRzhs

Colin

Simon,
Get a cheap Panda 4x4 & cut the back off then you nedn't feel guilty about cutting down an Appia

Brian
8227 8)
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=fiat+panda+pickup&hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1T4ADRA_enGB420GB424&biw=955&bih=545&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=6K0mU3oeoZIUcM:&imgrefurl=http://fpcd.iphpbb3.com/forum/57860722nx58/fiat-panda-foto-gallery--foto-des-monats-f26/foto-des-monats-2007--t5471.html&docid=hWJJAaXCXww3rM&imgurl=http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/708/pandabierwagen02sd2rj0.jpg&w=640&h=312&ei=9QdZUJycN-ec0AX7g4H4BQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=468&vpy=269&dur=140&hovh=157&hovw=322&tx=138&ty=113&sig=110305812843766570042&page=2&tbnh=97&tbnw=198&start=6&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:6,i:101

Chugga will knock something up for you !!!!!!!!!!!

I mean, it's not as though he's busy and we all know he loves a challenge !!!!!!!

                           Andy

Sorry James, see you soon, maybe in the Appia (fingers crossed !!)

Trojan gets my vote, seems to tick all the boxes, except the Lancia one..... Oh dear. ( or did I miss whose chassis it was??)

Peter

After watching the Trojan film I wonder why we ALL don't drive them.  Perhaps because of what he had to do to it to get it started.  Most cars need a bit of TLC but that was ridiculous.

If you are going to play the Brit then an Austin 7 would just about do it with a light body and some tuning. A Landrover is the obvious small holder transport - other than the stiff springs but maybe it softens up with a load on.

Of course here in the UK - the home of elite cycling - we'd expect you to uphold the honor of the mother country and do it all by peddle power.

David

This one?

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page.php/carno/136308

it seems to pop up every year or so, I fell in love with the idea a while ago (but not at £20k) and another club member was quite serious about it, (don't worry Mark I won't mention your name). Don't know what happened though. Anyone?

Martin.

We borrow our neighbours tractor for this very task here in NE Italy and in fcat have completed our vendemmia (grape harvest) just this morning.
But about 20 years ago, Brian Collins of Weylock Autos, Byfleet made a Fulvia pick-up from a S2 Fulvia coupe which had a damaged rear and it was remkarkably effective and good looking. Sadly Brian is no longer with us but the car was still around about 10 years ago I recall.
I dont have any photos but it was red with a vinyl roof I think and cromodora wheels

But Chris - that's cheating (unless of course it is a Lancia tractor) ! But maybe I could buy a Lamborghini (tractor) which is at least Italian......

Good luck with your wine-making (or table grapes?)

This is the order in which to do things !!!


1)  Buy a trailer
2)  Declare all existing owned vehicles unsuitable for towing
3)  BUY WHICHEVER LANCIA  TAKES YOUR FANCY as a towing vehicle
4)  Attempt to justify choice to your better half !!!

Good luck, especially with the last one !!!!

                             Andy

The last owner in Holland really bumped up the price, I was considering buying from the previous owner in Italy, and you can knock 10K euro off of it's current asking price.
Although it would take some getting down between the vines!
Brian
8227 8)

Some inspiration from the web:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mauboi/6166193455/
http://www.ritzsite.nl/Lancia/Appia/production/1957_Lancia_Appia_S2_camioncino.JPG

...and the conversation having ended up on the "for sale" page a link to that thread:

http://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5456.0

My own view is that no "barn find" Appia is going to be restored given the price of chrome, interior, fittings let alone structure, panels and paint and as such a conversion to a vinyard runabout can be justified.  Would you buy more of the wine and go and visit if such a car existed or put Simon on a black list?

David

B.b.b.b.BINGO !!!   An Appia pickup at sane money !!!

http://www.subito.it/auto/lancia-appia-camioncino-messina-48867010.htm

...or back at the plan for a roof less vinyard truck conversion.  Is this a potential donor? 

http://www.subito.it/auto/lancia-altro-modello-sassari-46871341.htm

Chrome shot, sills and floor look gone, door bottoms all gone, you can guess the boot lid matches.  Screen surround has surface rust and the pillars suspect.  Stored in the damp so the interior likely to be rotten.

Another:

http://www.subito.it/auto/lancia-appia-2-serie-targhe-in-ferro-caserta-27795576.htm

No need to strip and sell the glass - that's been done already.

This one just for interest:-

http://www.subito.it/auto/lancia-appia-furgone-arezzo-48395104.htm

David

Anyone tell me please why I can't ever open subito.it?

Robin.

Robin.....are you using IE or Chrome or Mozilla browser window?

P

Same here, using Safari.

Has someone blocked it on your computer as a "dangerous" site :) 

The temptations ARE terrible on there...

Sometimes I wish I couldn't see it either.

David

Subito geo-block users from outside of Italy. The message on their site I get is "Dear customer,
we inform you that our site is accessible only from IP addresses originating from Italy." Maybe some can get there via other means but I haven't been able to access it from Australia for about 12 months.
Noel

I've just got in using this link
http://www.subito.it/annunci-emilia-romagna-italia/vendita/usato/?o=4&q=Lancia

Brian
8227 8)

Hi Brian,

No, still won't let me in and suggests I email 'banned@subito.it'  ???

Did you try a different browser?

P

I'm using Internet Explorer.
Brian
8227 8)

Could try Mozilla or chrome.....I use Mozilla always, much more stable and doesn't throw too many strops and seems to access all sites

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/chrome/browser/


P

Finally sorted !

Moto Guzzi Ercole ....... means that the furgoncino does the advertising and the Ercole does the work

is it a bird, is it a plane.....No its Hercules ;D

Seriously though does this qualify as a motorbike so no MOT in France???

Correct ! No MOT ......

ready to roll .... and it is far more beautiful than a bird or a 'plane !  1.5 tonnes capacity and hydraulic lift

COOOOOOOOL ;D well jel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAwcffpgTlQ

Looks bigger on the film than in the photos.  He says often found in vinyards, good in tight spaces.

David

Methinks a great choice and a in pretty good condition for (light?) restoration from the looks of it (given your other remarkable efforts).

One question, in the youtube videos it shows the cabless versions with the fuel tank in the traditional motorbike position, but that one does not have that, where is the fuel tank? (Outside the cab I guess)

Peter

What fun Simon you will have in this? And will the wine made from the grapes it has transported taste better?
Chris

Thanks gents
Not planning any restoration, just make sure it works properly ! The tank is being cleaned ready for new fuel. It fits in the traditional motorbike position.

Currently in winterised form - apparently the cab just lifts off ......

And it is narrow enough to get through the vines - not quite sure what they will make of in the village. I should be going to collect her from Toulouse in a couple of weeks, a trailer is in order because the top speed is about 30mph 

What a hoot - I love it!

A man after my own heart Simon - why conform when you can be outrageous!  ;)

Enjoy!

Robin.

Just carrying on the Lancia tradition!! But with a different Italian "steed"

It will feel really at home if you can find a space for the variety of grape found in the Como area.  You'll have to ask your expert which one to plant.

In terms of developing the fleet - happy with the Velosolex or on the hunt for one of these?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcXjV1gdVsE

Lots of different frames but its the four stroke engine with its two speed gearbox that's the vital part here.  Back when I had a Villiers engine Rudge autocycle that was my "trade-up pin-up".

A Cucciolo remains on my "maybe one day" list.

David

Excellent purchase Simon, it looks fantastic. I saw one of these for sale in Italy last year and thought it looked interesting in an agricultural sort of way, much like a Porsche or Lamborghini tractor. Just what one needs for doing little jobs around one's estate!

Suppose you'll be spending all your time on the forum below now Simon........;)


http://www.motoguzziclub.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19626


P

Form an orderly queue gents

http://annunci.ebay.it/motori/moto+guzzi+ercole/


P

My oh my...........someone give this little baby a home....hands across the Atlantic Simon?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Fiat-Bianchini-NO-RESERVE-/390762409410?_trksid=p2054897.l4275


P

A restored one....they go for quite a bit, would be an even better project

http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=241670798&asrc=st|sr

P

Mind you Simon, with a few tweeks, Dogs body work skills....you could turn it into this!!!

http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=229883924&asrc=st|sr

P